Current and former U.S. military officials are preparing for the imminent release of a review into the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, a document commissioned by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that could emerge as early as this month. The report is expected to intensify public discussion about the chaotic end of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan, just ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
The review, ordered by Hegseth, includes extensive interviews with senior military leaders involved in the withdrawal and the evacuation that followed the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021. Those familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously due to concerns over potential repercussions, indicated that the report could recommend disciplinary actions against generals who played central roles during the operation. However, some sources noted that while preparations to share the findings publicly are underway, the exact timing remains uncertain.
The review comes amid heightened political tensions. Former President Donald Trump has made Afghanistan a key issue in his 2024 campaign, pledging to hold accountable those he views as responsible for the conduct of the war’s conclusion under the Biden administration. Hegseth has emphasized his commitment to this objective, citing the Islamic State suicide bombing at Kabul’s international airport that killed 13 U.S. troops and approximately 170 Afghan civilians during the evacuation’s final days.
Hegseth’s office has underscored that the review will ensure accountability, although officials have declined to address whether the report’s release is being coordinated for political impact ahead of the midterms.
The defense secretary has tasked Sean Parnell, a former Army officer and his chief spokesperson who also served in Afghanistan, to lead the review effort. Parnell has previously described the goal as producing a comprehensive and transparent account of the events in August 2021, aimed at revealing failures in decision-making to prevent future tragedies. Alongside Parnell, former Marine Corps officer Stuart Scheller—who was court-martialed in 2021 after publicly criticizing senior generals—and journalist Jerry Dunleavy, formerly of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, have contributed to the review.
The potential consequences for the generals involved remain unclear. Options being considered reportedly range from reinstating retired officers to active duty for possible disciplinary measures to issuing formal censures. Some of the generals examined remain active in prominent military roles.
Key figures criticized in past investigations include Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, retired Gen. Mark A. Milley, and retired Gen. Austin “Scott” Miller. McKenzie led Middle East operations at the time, Milley was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President Joe Biden's top military adviser during the crisis, and Miller commanded U.S. forces in Afghanistan until shortly before the withdrawal. Hegseth has previously targeted Milley and McKenzie as the kinds of generals he wishes to remove from the military.
In testimony earlier this year, McKenzie explained that while the Pentagon had prepared plans to withdraw personnel ahead of the Taliban’s takeover, Biden’s decision to keep the embassy in Kabul open and reduce troop presence to a few hundred contributed to the Afghan government’s rapid collapse. Milley and McKenzie have also cited Trump’s 2020 agreement with the Taliban, which set a timetable for a full troop withdrawal by spring 2021, as a significant factor in destabilizing the country.
Miller, who did not testify publicly, warned officials in a closed session that security in Afghanistan would deteriorate rapidly following troop withdrawal. In reviews after the evacuation, some military leaders criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the situation. Rear Adm. Peter Vasely, who led Navy SEAL forces during the evacuation, argued that a more orderly departure would have been possible had policymakers better heeded on-the-ground intelligence.
Biden administration officials have defended their decisions, stating their options were limited due to the prior agreement made by the Trump administration with the Taliban. They have stressed that Biden sought to avoid prolonging American military involvement. Notably, senior figures from the Biden administration, including former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, did not participate in interviews for Hegseth’s review.